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Kwid vs Eon Comparison

Renault Kwid vs Hyundai Eon Comparison

Exteriors and Looks:
The design and looks of any Hyundai model is enough to drive a prospective customer to buy one of their models and Hyundai has continued to carry this trend forward to the entry level segment with the introduction of the Eon. The car is beautifully tuned as per the new Fluidic 2.0 sculpture with its tallboy proportions, swept back headlamps, distinctive grille etc. But the Kwid is the one that really steals the show with its SUV like stance something that is alien to our country. The muscular and aggressive look combined with the SUV like grille along with the central logo clearly overshadows the contemporary design of the Eon and has an imposing presence on the road. With its heighted bonnet, superior ground clearance and broad look, the Kwid looks like a 'baby Duster’. It has an impressive ground clearance of 180 mm (comparable to the Toyota Innova) and a wheelbase of 2422mm. While the wheelbase on offer with the Eon is 2385 mm and it stands 170 mm above the ground. Even though the Eon is slightly taller than the Kwid, it is the one that clearly takes the Kwid’s beating. However, one major disappointment in the Kwid’s exterior is the build quality and the Kwid, really difficult to mention, feels like a tin can!Hyundai Eon vs Kwid Comparison Video Review:

Pricing & Features:
The Renault Kwid bears a sticker price of 3.95 lakh, On-road, Delhi, for the range-topping 'RXT O' variant. At this price the Kwid poses a serious challenge to Hyundai's entry-level model, the Eon. The top end 'Sportz' variant of the 800cc engined Eon, retails for 4.64 lakh, which is 70,000 Rs. more than the Kwid. and yet the Kwid has an extra Touch-screen infotainment system over the Eon, which is worth around 10,000 Rs. making it a 80,000 Rs. or 20% cheaper than the, already cheap Eon!

Performance & Drivability:
Eon is painfully deficient in the performance department. Kwid is noticeably better than the Eon, not because of better engine output, but because of a 100 kg lighter kerb weight than the Eon. Renault has given the Kwid excessively tall gear ratios to achieve that 25 kmpl+ ARAI figure, but it has hurt the Kwid's drivability around town. Even then it is not any worse than the Eon. Both cars are quite gutless on the highways with inadequate grunt to pull even moderate speed overtakes.

Power (PS): Kwid – 54@5678, Eon (0.8): 56@5500Torque (Nm): Kwid – 72@4386, Eon (0.8): 74@4000Kerb Weight (kg): Kwid - 660, Eon (0.8): 760Power to Weight Ratio (PS/ton):Kwid - 82,Eon (0.8) - 74 (11% difference)Torque to Weight Ratio (Nm/ton):Kwid - 109,Eon (0.8) - 97 (12% difference)Fuel Efficiency:
Renault has launched India’s most fuel efficient petrol car, the Kwid which is capable of running 25.17 kilometres to a litre as certified by the ARAI. The Hyundai Eon returns 21.1 kmpl, which is 4 kmpl less than the Kwid. In our back to back test the Kwid was just over 1 kmpl more efficient than the Eon. That translates to a savings of 55,000 Rs. in fuel cost with the Kwid, compared to the Eon over a usage of 75,000 km.

Fuel Cost for 75,000 km (in Lakh): Kwid - 2.86, Eon - 3.41

Space and Comfort:
Kwid has a considerably more spacious cabin than the Eon. It has better knee-room and leg-room for both front as well as rear passengers. It also has a wide rear bench, sufficient for two passengers with a bit of space left over for an occasional third occupant, while the Eon's rear seat is strictly meant for two adults only. Coming to boot space, the Kwid can accommodate an impressive 300 litres, way higher than that of the Eon's capacity of 215 litres. The boot of the Kwid is so huge, that it can even accommodate an average sized person, something to be considered as an achievement for a car of this class. Eon tries frantically to claw back some lost ground by offering, price-tag busting, premium and well finished interiors, compared to Kwid's expanse of grey plastics.

Ride Quality and Handling:
When it comes to roads riddled with potholes and speed breakers, the Kwid has an advantage over the Eon, owing to its class-leading 180 mm of ground clearance. Tackling corners too is slightly better in the Kwid. The steering in both the cars feels extremely light, killing the joy of cornering, but the Kwid certainly has better grip and balance around the bends compared to the Eon.

Reliability and After Sales Service:
One area where the Kwid clearly loses out to the Eon is reliability and after sales service. Renault is no match for Hyundai, which has clearly entrenched itself well into the Indian market. The Kwid is the first product majorly developed by Renault in India, owing to its brand new powertrain and Renault's poor track record in JDP Surveys in Europe, it is prudent for prospective customers to wait for a period of 6 months before cutting a check for the Kwid. Renault's service network with its 250 odd outlets is also no match to the sheer spread of Hyundai's 800+ touch points.

Resale after 5 to 7 years est. (Lakh):
The Eon is bound to have slightly lesser depreciation than the Kwid, thanks to Hyundai's well established dealer operations and service support compared to Renault's rookie dealers.
Kwid (RXT O) – 2.20, Eon 0.8 (Sportz) – 2.60Total Cost of Ownership (in Lakh): (Vehicle Price + Fuel Cost – Resale Value)
Overall, the Kwid works out to be quite a sizeable 80,000 Rs. cheaper than the Eon in terms of Overall Cost of Ownership over an ownership period of 5 to 7 years.
Kwid (RXT O) – 4.65, Eon 0.8 (Sportz) – 5.45

Verdict:
The Kwid is the clear cut winner of this comparo! Renault has really loaded its latest kid, the Kwid with all the weaponry to fight the toughest battle in the Indian car industry. Renault Kwid ticks almost all the boxes of the entry level Car Buyer, while the Eon has trouble ticking even half of them. The Kwid is more spacious and practical than the Eon, it has noticeably better performance, superior dynamics, attractive features, better efficiency and last but not the least is it's perfectly executed micro-SUV styling, all for a killer price tag!